ROYAL Mail managers look set to join postal strike action over cuts to pensions.
The managers have previously stepped in to provide cover during strikes by Royal Mail workers but they look likely to join the strikes, according to the Unite union, which represents 12,000 Royal Mail managers.
Unite issued a statement on Monday (September 24), warning Royal Mail it could face strike action over pensions, but has yet to announce any strike dates.
Proposals by Royal Mail include closing the pension scheme to new employees, raising the retirement age to 65 in 2010, and replacing the current final salary pension schemes with career average schemes from April 1 next year.
A Unite statement described the move as “the great mail robbery."
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) have announced 48 hour strike dates for its Royal Mail members, including delivery and collection workers.
These will affect a five day period, from October 5 until and including October 9.
In addition a rolling programme of strikes will commence on October 15, and continue weekly until the dispute is resolved.
The latest strike dates, likely to affect postal services across the area, in particular the main sorting office in Cheap Street, were announced after talks between the CWU and Royal Mail bosses failed, over an April pay deal.
The union claims the pay deal is linked to "unacceptable propositions on flexibility and decreased pensions benefits."
Talks between Post Office Limited (POL) - who employ post office counter staff - and unions on pay are continuing, with POL stating "significant progress" has been made.
Meanwhile, from October 28, Royal Mail is set to abolish Sunday postal collections throughout the UK, according to a recent statement issued by the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.
"With low volumes of mail posted on Sunday, the cost of providing this service is disproportionately high: consequently Royal Mail have decided that cessation of this service is necessary," the statement read.
As the vast majority of Royal Mail's 115,000 letter boxes have never had a Sunday collection, this would have "little effect on business," according to the statement.